Tokyo is just, well, grey today.

I'm spending the week in Tokyo on business. And you know, I am just not that wild about this place. Granted, so far, all I've seen is city and more city. And, rain and more rain. There is something very sobering, as a manager of localization, walking around in a city with really, poorly translated signage. English is hip, as far as I can tell, but the combo of words used for naming just leaves me with a big fat question mark in my head. For instance, I just went to a monstrosity of a shopping mall (14 stories) and the sign outside the door is "Creative Life, Toku Hands". Now, that sorta makes you think of, umm, something made by hand, creativity, etc... Inside, it was a Tokyo-Target with widgets and gidgets that are flashy and overpriced. I am humbled as I walk around and hour after hour and do not hear one word of a language I know. And, anything I say is not understood. All Americans should have this experience at least 10 times in their life. It might create a tsunami of understanding and patience in the culture.

I have all day Saturday to myself, and maybe I'll feel something different by then. At least, maybe I'll find a little Japanese yarn!

The good news is the cherry blossoms are in full flower. Here is a photo shot early this morning (in the grey rain) from my hotel:

Winter Knitting - pictures finally

Show and Tell for Winter - details and links to patterns in the near future.

Infinite Shawl - knit in one continuous loop, it has one side.
Anny Blatt wool purchased in Paris in the color that is all the rage.

10 Dec 2006 Update 
Well, It's not wide enough for a shawl, and I've decided I'm just not a fringey type) at least not for this item. So today I removed all the fringe and it is now a SCARF that does a double wrap around the neck. Much better.


Most Expensive Scarf I ever knit
(because I bought 1 skein each of the colors needed to make the fringe)
Too bad it's so warm I need to live on a polar cap to make use of it.


Socketta Gloves, finally done



Love This Hat! My Favorite: Personal Touch Pattern from Fiber Trends. Paton Yarn, double strand.
It's very thick and perfect for very cold weather.



Lastly, a Rowan Silk Yarn in a simple rolled Beanie
(That's August staring at you!)

Chunky Newsboy Cap

Found a chunky Newsboy cap that satisfies the younger set. This is a pattern from the Hilltop Yarn store in Seattle, WA. Super bulky acrylic/wool yarn on size 17 needles.

January Blues

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would knit something, and then shrink the hell out of it. But here I am, doing just that. Finishing up on holiday promises, I delivered the final two hats today. (Modeled here by Michelle.)

Hat 1:  Fibertrends (first pattern AC-1), ; two stands of Paton Classic Merino Wool (peacock and navy); blocked on Round Crown slant Hat Shapers form. Added a simple garter band in purple wool (felted, post-kntting)

Hat #2: Cloche design cobbled together from lots of patterns, but basically a huge bucket until you felt it. Knit with  Kraemer yarns, "Mauch Chunky; blocked on Bowler Hat Shaper's form. I used a 3 stitch I-cord band (then felted it) to finish it off.

Diamond Head Hat

For gift-giving this recent holiday season I offered to make each of my family a hat of their choosing. My first daughter selected a style I a) had to learn and b) was of a method that took *forever*. It is done. Noro Kureyon varigated yarn (colorway #128, now discontinued) does wonders with this design. It originally started out as the "Diamond Head" pattern in the book, "Hats - a Knitter's dozen". Said daughter asked for the ever-so-popular built-in bill, so with some time spent in trial-and-error, I finally was able to produce her order for her head topper.

How to make the visor? Make the hat 3" longer than needed, fold to make a hem. Cut a bill-shaped piece of plastic and insert at front of hat. Pull the wool a bit to shape it and tack around the bill. Stitches don't show and the bill is integrated into the design.

P.S. Only offer to make this hat for someone you really REALLY love, or you'll be cursing the whole time you are weaving in those thousands of ends.